About the Role
Title: CDBG-DR Affordable Housing Specialist – Remote
Location: Remote, United States
Full time
job requisition id: R2404032
Job Description:
ICF’s Disaster Management Division is looking for an experienced CDBG-DR Affordable Housing Specialist to serve as a project specialist and subject matter expert within the Disaster Management division. This position is 100% Remote in the United States with up to 25% travel.
ICF’s Disaster Management division works with government agencies and communities to design programs and implement policies that promote increased resilience to disasters and long-term recovery in housing, economic revitalization, and infrastructure after disaster strikes. Our functional expertise is in program management, grant management, technical assistance, training, performance measurement and evaluation, program implementation, and development. Clients include states, local governments, and other federal agencies. We often work in close collaboration with ICF experts across the firm on issues related to energy efficiency and green building, infrastructure, disaster planning and recovery, financial literacy, job training, and other areas of discipline. All our work is done in a professional, collegial, and intellectual environment that allows individuals to pursue their passions and generate results.
As a CDBG-DR Affordable Housing Specialist, you should have in-depth experience with the Department of Housing and Urban Development’s Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) and related affordable rental housing and/or homeownership development programs (e.g., CDBG-DR, -MIT, -CV, HOME, HTF, NSP, LIHTC, and other HUD and federal housing programs). You should also have in-depth experience with developing affordable housing projects or programs including the fundamentals of real estate deals such as financing and underwriting; knowledge of various funding mechanisms (i.e. tax credits, bonds, public/private equity, etc.); affordable housing development team structures; land use/entitlement approvals; the Uniform Relocation Act, appraisals and surveys, and other elements needed to design and implement long-term affordable rental and homeownership programs.
This position will be responsible for supporting the design and implementation of disaster recovery affordable housing projects and programs, including rental and homebuyer assistance CDBG-DR programs, and providing strategic consulting support to clients implementing disaster recovery and resilience programs. You will work with senior staff, other experts, outside contractors, junior ICF team members, and client and subrecipient staff to develop and implement disaster recovery and mitigation programs and projects.
This position requires the ability to think on one’s feet and adjust to an ever-changing environment and ever-changing client needs.
Key Responsibilities:
- Provide project guidance and subject matter expertise in disaster recovery, homebuyer support, and/or affordable housing program design and implementation, as well as pre-disaster risk mitigation measures.
- Work as part of a team providing expert services on policy and regulatory issues to develop written materials for the public to understand the program and for HUD compliance.
- Inform program underwriting processes, coordinate project stakeholders, work with staff and subcontractors, and work directly with the client and developers to provide advisory/consulting services needed to assemble viable projects and programs.
- Provide guidance and expertise on Federal regulations (CDBG-DR, cross cutting Federal requirements, Duplication of Benefits, Procurement, Fair Housing, Part 200, etc.) and translating them into the implementation of the programs.
- Help refine program procedures and processes for implementation.
- Work with staff to set up systems and processes, be available to interpret and apply the regulations within the context of these systems.
- Help implement CDBG-DR funded programs.
- Provide advisory and consulting services to clients through training sessions, one-on-one conversations, Office Hours, and written products.
- Develop written products and tools for grantee policies and procedures, program implementation, and design.
Please provide an updated resume aligned to the qualifications, skills and experience required for consideration.
MUST HAVE Qualifications:
- Bachelor’s degree in Public Administration/Public Policy, Urban Planning, Real Estate Development, Finance, or a related discipline.
- 5+ years’ affordable housing development (rental and/or homeownership) experience working with private and public funding sources.
- 5+ years’ experience in housing development programs that are implemented at the state or local level.
- 3+ years of In-depth and hands-on knowledge of the CDBG/CDBG-DR programs or other affordable housing programs (i.e., HOME, HTF, LIHTC, etc.), regulations and implementation.
- 5+ years interpreting local, state, and federal policies and regulations to direct the development of policies and procedures.
Preferred Skills/Experience: (These may enhance candidate consideration)
- Master’s degree preferred.
- Able and willing to travel up to 25% depending on project needs.
- Experience with creation of housing and community development subject-related materials, such as training and technical assistance tools, presentations, handouts, etc.
- Experience working in a consulting firm, development organization, or public agency preferred.
- Experience delivering training and technical assistance to state and local government agencies.
- Business development, sales, fundraising, and/or proposal experience.
Professional Skills:
- Strong analytical, problem-solving, and decision-making capabilities. Keen eye for detail.
- Strong written and verbal communication skills, emotional intelligence, critical thinking skills, and integrity and ethics.
- Team player with the demonstrated ability to build organizational capability, motivate teaming partners/staff to ensure high levels of engagement, and work in a dynamic, fast-paced environment.
- Proficiency with Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Project Management Software).
- Independent staff engagement and decision-making ability.
- Self-motivated with the drive to achieve.